Trident™ Application Highlight: Thermal Conductivity Characterization Under Vacuum Conditions
This document highlights the use of the Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) method to characterize the thermal conductivity of insulation materials under vacuum conditions.
In aerospace, cryogenic, and scientific instrumentation applications, insulation materials operate in vacuum or near-vacuum environments where convective heat transfer is eliminated. Under these conditions, conduction and radiation become the dominant heattransfer modes, and the effective thermal conductivity of porous insulation drops substantially compared with that in ambient air. Accurate characterization of insulation performance in vacuum is therefore essential for spacecraft thermal control, liquefied gas storage systems, and superconducting equipment.
Figure 1. Multi-layer insulation from a satellite structure.
Measurements were performed using the Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) method, available exclusively on the Trident Thermal Conductivity Instrument, integrated into a pressure cell capable of maintaining a partial vacuum. A polyurethane foam sample was tested under ambient air and in a partial vacuum. The aerogel calibration with RhoCp input was used for all measurements.To read more, download the PDF below.